SEABUDDY
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Posts Tagged ‘wood’

There are three companies associated with Dart Boats. All made their runabouts of wood, with oak and ash for the keel, chines, bent frames, station frames, and battens and mahogany for the planking. These are often true Mahogany runabout specifications. Dart was somewhat different in that they used brass angle plates in their construction as well as brass screws and copper rivets. The rivets and screws were said to be every “a row of rivets or screws every 4 inches from stem to stern” according to 1927 Dart Boat literature.

Dart Boats were first made by the Indian Lake Boat Company, Inc. in Lima, Ohio which licensed the Canadian boat builder, Greavette Boats Limited to make some of their designs and use their hardware. Greavette made just 31 boats under this license and then changed to another runabout design. Their Greavette Dart boats production were spread out among four models; two 18’ different boat models, plus a 23’ and a 26’ boat model.

In 1928 the name and rights to Dart Boats were sold by Indian Lake Boat Company to Dart Boats Incorporated in Toledo, Ohio which had Webb Hayes II, as its chief operating officer. He was the grandson of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19^th President of the United States and ex-congressman and ex-Governor of Ohio. This company ended production and closed in 1933.

Dart Boats made two styles in a 18 ½’ length boat, a 22 1/2’ by 6’ 1” (the Dart Jr)., a 26’ by 6’ 8” (the Dart), a 29’ and a 30’. The longer boats were usually offered in several designs. A 30’ Gold Dart triple cockpit powered by a Chrysler Imperial engine was considered the top-of-the-line. A Silver Dart (26’) was another model name as well as the previously mentioned “Dart” and “Dart Jr”.

Irving J. “Hocky” Holler designed the boats (he also designed some Richardson Boats/Yachts, later) to handle the Lake Erie chop and they advertised that a Dart Boat design featured: “seaworthiness, speed per Hp, and ride quality” compared to other brands of the era.

GarWood speedboats first built wood runabouts as a triple cockpit boat in 1922. She was a 33’ long speedboat that used the hull shape and design from his race boats. This model was the famous Baby Gar. By 1927 Gar Wood added a second Baby Gar triple cockpit in a 28’ length. By 1930, these were joined in production with a 22’ speedboat. The 18’ and 25’ models came along in 1931. All these power boats were cockpit runabout speedboat models.

Wood was the boat building material of choice for all boat builders back then. Mahogany was used for planking and often oak for the framing. GarWood Boats were no different about the wood choices, just in the specific boat design details and the quality of the finished product. He and his company wanted the highest quality in all the boats that wore the Gar Wood name.

In 1935 GarWood added a 20’ utility (or open) runabout to its line of boats. This was its first utility design. More utilities were added in a 20’ length in 1936, a 18’ in 1936, and a 24’ utility in 1937. These power boats were all made of wood also.

One of 419 examples of this model size built the year that she was made and one of the best old style ski boats is this mahogany Century 16’ Resorter model. This one has a replacement 260 Hp Chevy Mercruiser inboard V-8 for power and she really goes when a skier says “hit it”. She is a high speed, speedboat.

A wood runabout Century boat has a good amount of v (vee) at the bow that flattens aft for a very shallow amount of deadrise for the most speed and quick acceleration that a performance boat on lake waters needs.

Further, a Resorter Century from this era used the light but strong batten seam construction style for her hull construction. She has many athwart ship frames as well as having seam covering longitudinal battens that the planks are both fastened to (A separate wood batten runs behind all of the planking seams to add strength and water tightness to the hull in this style of boat building).

 A hard chine, v-bottom mahogany runabout was and is the runabout style of choice for many water sports. She is best described as a utility, as each passenger row is easy to get between, rather than being described as a twin cockpit mahogany speedboat.

Straight shaft inboard runabouts with their separate prop, rudder, and propeller strut, are one of the oldest, most reliable ways to design a timber boat. And, Century was a quality leader in both design and styling in the 1950s era. This classic mahogany runabout was the official tow boat brand in the late 1950s, not a Chris Craft.

Century Boat Company started in the wood boat business in 1926 and by 1969 had stopped production of wood hulled boats as they continued on with fiberglass boats.

The photos are from antique boat america.com that has this boat for sale.

16 century wood boat 1959 model

Dashboard of the 16' Resorter Century

AHacker Craft underway on the Lake

Hacker Craft makes wood boats even today in the USA. They continue to believe that a wood boat offers the best qualities of ride and performance for a recreational boater to enjoy our waterways. Wood is not the path to the lowest price for enjoyment on the water, but for a hobby, how far up in importance is price?

With Hacker Craft being located on Lake George in upstate New York, the highest achievement of boating fun is often tied up at a nearby dock at the signature lake. Feel the experience of a fine wood classic craft for yourself if you are in the market for a boat. I did and must say, I was impressed with the ride and handling of a Hacker Craft inboard.

She rides level, takes a good chop very well, and gives a solid bite on the water for all on board. This is a signature boat – an excellent example of what boating can be about.

By the way, Neiman Marcus will have a Hacker Craft in its upcoming Christmas catalog this year.

a new Hacker Craft at the dock

Chris Craft Runabout

 This a Chris Craft runabout under rstoration at a company that does quality classic boat work, Wooden Boat Restoration LLC. I also have seen the boat all but finished except for final “punch List” work. She is a great sight to see. She is 15  1/2 feet in lenght and powered as a speed boat should.

Sly Fox is a classic wood runabout, with two cockpits and two rows of seating aboard with good room for all.

She uses a utility style layout for ease of acess between the two cockpits. An engine box keeps the mechanicals out of the seating areas.

Its a joy to explore the lakes and bays of america’s waterways in such an antique and classic boat. Its a different feeling than one gets in a new boat. People that share the water with you give you a smile and a wave as they like seeing you and the boat in use.

Your choice;Chairs or a settee for seating in the main salon

Are these full tank of diesel fuel ranges hard and fast? No. Could one reasonably expect such performance numbers to better understand if this yacht is for you? Yes.

Mainship Yachts kept the same hull as their 34, added on a few inches in the bow pulpit to make for a longer LOA, pushed some things around to get in a nice second stateroom inside and it’s the new and very nicely appointed 2011 model year Mainship Trawler 35.

Never get to stuck on the numbers here with this “35” yacht has an LOA of 39’ 5”, a beam of 14’ 2”,  a somewhat light weight of 20,000 lbs.  Single diesel (or two), bow and stern thrusters (or not, with the twin diesel engines), and flying bridge seating for five plus a bar-b-que and sink, etc make for a tippy motion at sea, but a fine spot to relax after a days run once you are on the hook.

master stateroom at the bow

The 34 had just one stateroom, sold well, and I predict that this one, with the two private stateroom will set sales records. Price…about $300 to $400 thousand depending on how one finishes this yacht out.

Oh, BTW, if you like slow and great fuel economy, get the smallest engine they offer. She will cruise slow on less than 150 Hp, the rest of the power is for “beat ahead of a storm” or a “good purchase against a running tide”, etc. The thrusters will take care of any marina  handling issues.

Main salon looking foward, look for the galley cook top

underway

layout cutaway for the Riva runabout

looking down

She goes as fast as the mid-40s with her twin diesels all the way wide open. At almost 6 tons she is a BIG wood and glass runabout. And, with her beam at 9’ 2” she needs a permit to haul her around on land.

Watch the ride when it gets rough, her deadrise is only a moderate v hull shape.

Made in Italy and sold mostly at Marine Max boat dealers. Yes, they usually have one Riva runabout boat for sale.

at speed

Riva yacht class

Wood and glass make for a nice day boat yacht

the skipper and the admiral

Its all of the White House

First, do not miss out on the brownies.

That said, this one is good coffee and right up the street from the biggest marina in town. Short walk from your boat slip. Go to St. Michaels Talbot Street., turn left, it is on the far side from you of the Talbot street. (the main street for St. Michaels). Across from Ava’s lunch, dinner, pizza, win bar, with its the lively social, friendly atmosphere of the town of St. Michaels.

Coming by land to St. Michaels?  On the driver’s side of the Talbot Street as one comes into downtown. 402 South Talbot Street.

There is a front sitting room and a huge back setting room with nice art, comfy couches, chairs, and an opportunity to get off the boat and plan your exploration of the Town of St. Michaels.

Coffee? Yup, just like all the other places. It tastes right to seabuddy / chris brown.

Why here? 1)  Close to the marina. 2) The spacious and relaxing area to rest and savor your drink. 3) the friendly  and helpful staff 4) did seabuddy say something about the brownies? 5) Wi Fi is free.

St.  Michaels Perk Coffee House, 402 Talbot Street, 410-745-8099, tell them seabuddy recommended them to you.

real wood, real varnish finish

outboard motor mounted inboard, inside the fordeck

note the yellow tinted stripesbetween planks

she is all of 8 feet long

Fact sheet

She is a real planked mahogany runabout in miniature. An outboard motor mounted inside the hull provides her power. She has single planked hull sides and bottom. Made in a small run back in 1931, she let the kids ride in a mahogany wood runabout just likeDad’s.  Only eight feet long, she got the “look” down very well for a reduced sized craft.

Dads and antique and classic boats just go together, is seabuddy / chris brown’s observation.

Nice "after" restoration Photo

She won an award in a Antique and Classic Boat Festival in St. Michaels, MD. For the restoration of what would be called a “bone yard” boat that most would just cut up, rather than save, rebuild, restore, and give another boating life to.

New structural wood was mixed in with the still good wood. She got careful time and attention to all the “next” steps. Note the finish on the stained /varnished wood and the painted hull sides. Wooden Boat Restoration is noted along the eastern half of the US for their ability to deliver any level of finish that one wants for a wood boat.

Their secret?  Years of knowledge, study, and a paint booth that Chip Foose of automotive TV fame would die for.

the Interior is highly varnished to furniture grade finish

Note that Helene Breza, woodwright, (pictured) was very involved in this boat.

Pride in her work

Wooden Boat Restoration is a small, hands on, firm that does very nice work in a large shop in the eastern shore of Maryland. Need something done? Give them a call. Shop 410-928-5501, cell 610-247-8053 or on the web…

www.woodenboatrestorationllc.com

These photos are from that website and other Wooden Boat Restoration projects are shown there also. George likes his customers to get progress photos of their wood boat as work is done on it.

"before" the restoration photo

"before the wood boat restoration

"during" wood boat restoration